Ray White Orewa agent Roger Sumich’s road cycling career led him to travel all over the world, even competing at the 1984 Los Angeles Olympic Games.
Mr Sumich was also selected for the 1980 Olympic Games in Moscow but was unable to compete as New Zealand was one of the countries which boycotted those Olympics.
He also competed at the Commonwealth Games in Brisbane in 1982 where he claimed the bronze medal.
“We were living in Mt Albert above a shop when I was six years old and when ! was 10 a guy who lived also above another shop was 15 and a cyclist. I used to go up there most days and watch him clean his bike, I was hooked,” Mr Sumich said.
“When I was 12 my parents brought me a bike, but it was not a racing bike, so I picked strawberries all summer to buy my first racing bike for $50.
“I participated in my first race when I was 13. I came last, but the second race I won.
“After that it was all about cycling and nothing else mattered.”
He said in 1980 he got a coach who changed the course of his career, leading the next six years to be very successful ones.
“I made the LA Olympic Games in 1984 for the road race,” he said.
“I made the front group of seven, but a well meaning spectator threw ice water over my legs and a lap later I had massive cramps in both thighs.
“That was the road race finished for me.”
Mr Sumich followed his passion for cycling to Europe.
“I left for Holland in 1976 and went there every year until 1980, followed by 1981, 1982, and 1984 which were spent in Italy,” he said.
Mr Sumich said his time in Holland and Italy was a major highlight of his cycling career, even learning to speak both languages.
“My partner and I married in Italy in 2008 and our Dutch friends and the Italian family that looked after me came, that was special,” he said.
“Last year we went back to Italy and we went to Verona as I wanted to see the X Mexico Olympic Road Race gold medalist Gianfranco Vianelli who was the sponsor of a team I raced for in 1982. He also made me two bikes for the 1982 Commonwealth Games.
“I hadn’t seen him since 1982, but eventually he recognised me!
“He said ‘non aspettare altri 45 anni per tornare, perche non saro qui’ which translates to ‘don’t wait another 45 years till you come back as I won’t be here!’.”
After ending his career in 1986, Mr Sumich bought and sold a home in Howick which led him to take an interest in real estate.
“I love real estate and we have owned many properties over the years,” he said.
“I love selling, love it when both vendors and buyers win, love referral business.
“Ray White Orewa is a great little office and the Hibiscus Coast market is a powder keg ready to explode in the coming years as it is still undervalued.”
DOWNLOAD IMAGES
Media contacts:
Roger Sumich
Salesperson
Ray White Orewa
+64 296 666 666
roger.sumich@raywhite.com
Cassandra Glover
Senior Media Advisor
Ray White Group
+61 447 000 472
cglover@raywhite.com